“Democracy has triumphed”
Ohio votes to enshrine abortion rights
November 8, 2023, 6:56 a.m
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The US Supreme Court will repeal the nationwide right to abortion in June 2022. In the conservatively run state of Ohio, of all places, people are resisting this – with success.
In a referendum in the US state of Ohio, voters voted to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. According to projections by broadcasters CNN and ABC, the “yes” camp prevailed in the highly publicized referendum in the Republican-governed state.
President Joe Biden immediately welcomed the result. “Democracy has triumphed,” he declared. The citizens of Ohio voted to protect their basic freedoms, the Democrat emphasized.
The US Supreme Court struck down the country’s basic right to abortion last June, triggering a political earthquake. Numerous conservative states subsequently banned abortions or significantly restricted access.
Temporary law comes into force
In Ohio, a law temporarily came into effect banning abortions after the sixth week. The law is currently on hold due to legal challenges.
The vote establishes a right to abortion in the state until the fetus is viable outside the womb. This is the case after around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy and corresponded to the US-wide legal situation until the Supreme Court ruling last year.
Abortion rights are one of the most controversial sociopolitical issues in the United States. It is also likely to be a major campaign issue in next year’s congressional and presidential elections. President Joe Biden’s Democrats hope to use this to mobilize voters.